Single Entity Funds
A powerful tool for supporting community and systems change, single entity funds provide our partners with the infrastructure and expertise to channel funds into a mission-aligned project or program.
What is a Single Entity Fund?
A single entity fund, which operates the same way as Model C fiscal sponsorship, is a Tides Foundation solution to assist individuals or organizations with raising and directing funds to a specific program or initiative — without the time and expense of starting a nonprofit. Tides extends our status and operational support by receiving and overseeing all contributions to single entity funds, so our partners can streamline their fundraising and grantmaking as they respond to community needs. Social change leaders, organizations without 501(c)(3) status, and others, use these funds to fuel a spectrum of social justice work, including:
- Community leaders who need short-term incubation support while they wait for their own 501(c)(3) status
- Social change leaders responding to urgent needs in their communities
- Individuals and groups not planning to seek nonprofit status for their mission-driven work who still need a compliant way to receive donations
- Businesses that want to channel funds to a charitable initiative within the organization
Why Tides?
Tides brings deep connections, competence, and commitment to social justice to every partnership.
Mission
Tides recognizes that communities historically denied power have the knowledge necessary to realize a just and equitable future. Our single entity funds help shift the resources and power these groups need to further their work.
Expertise
Creating a nonprofit or charitable program can be complex, expensive, and time-consuming. Tides’ support in nonprofit and grantmaking operations reduces our partners’ administrative burdens, freeing them to deepen their work to advance justice in impacted communities.
Partnership
Tides is more than a home for high-impact grantmaking — we’re a guide who seeks to build authentic relationships, align our partners’ goals with the right approach, and deepen impact over time. Our team keeps you informed while handling the back-end details, from administering grant agreements and financial reporting to helping to manage risk.
Connection
It takes a community to create change. Tides connects our partners to other like-minded leaders so they can share their ideas, work through roadblocks, and inspire each other on the path to social justice.
How to Start a Single Entity Fund
Work with Tides to start amplifying impact. Here’s how.
Step 1: Complete our questionnaire
Complete our Partner With Us form, then our team will contact you (if a partnership fit is determined) to discuss potential next steps.
Step 2: Talk to us
We’ll discuss goals with you to ensure our values are aligned, then recommend the best fund vehicle to support the causes you care about.
Step 3: Complete an application
If mission alignment is confirmed, we’ll send you an application to explore your fund goals further.
Step 4: Make an establishing gift
Once we have full approval, we’ll formalize our partnership and process your establishing gift.
Step 5: Start your giving journey
Representatives for your single entity fund meet the fund’s designated advisor and begin powering their social impact with Tides at their side.
Interested in partnering with Tides?
There’s no greater force than the collective power of people united for justice. Join us to fuel lasting change.
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